Framework Laptop 12 Review: The Most Repairable Laptop Ever

Budget-friendly laptops may prevention you money successful nan adjacent term, but if they’re cheaply made and quickly outdated, you whitethorn extremity up needing to switch them soon after. That’s why Framework’s ethos is specified a cleanable fresh for budget laptops. Being capable to upgrade aliases switch astir each constituent connected nan instrumentality yourself, successful theory, intends galore much years of life for your laptop, keeping devices retired of landfills.

The caller Framework Laptop 12 starts astatine conscionable $549 for nan DIY Edition, a awesome woody for nan price, but besides a laptop that could perchance past much, overmuch longer than your mean machine.

Plastic Please

The Framework Laptop 12 is nan 3rd awesome merchandise successful nan lineup truthful far. The institution first launched nan Framework Laptop 13 successful 2022, followed by a larger (and much powerful) 16-inch model. But nan 12-inch laptop is unique, however, arsenic it’s not only nan smallest but besides nan cheapest, bringing nan Framework accuracy to a full caller demographic. The Framework Laptop 12 bears a resemblance to student laptops, particularly Chromebooks. These are designed to withstand immoderate abuse, making it an due fresh for schools.

Although it uses conscionable a 12.2-inch screen, its wide footprint connected nan array is simply a spot bigger than you’d assume. Due to nan almost comically ample bezels astir nan display, nan instrumentality is larger successful immoderate dimensions than immoderate 13-inch laptops, for illustration nan Dell XPS 13. It’s truthful heavy (and nan bezels are truthful chunky) that it’s moreover taller than nan 13-inch MacBook Air pinch nan lid open, contempt having complete an inch little surface to activity with. It’s a mini surface to activity on, particularly compared to really ample nan instrumentality feels to carry.

There are a fewer absorbing bits astir nan screen. It’s nan first Framework instrumentality to characteristic a 16:10 facet ratio and a glossy touchscreen. The Framework Laptop 13 and 16 some person matte displays. But nan logic for nan touchscreen is that this is simply a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning nan hinge tin rotate astir 360 degrees. There’s moreover a stylus you tin bargain for taking notes aliases drawing, though excavation did not travel pinch it.

That besides intends it can’t unfastened easy pinch 1 hand. There’s nary articulator for your digit either, truthful you’ll request some hands to pry it open. Thankfully, nan build value is decent. It’s made retired of plastic, yes, truthful there’s immoderate springiness successful nan keyboard and lid. But Framework says it has an “inner metallic structure” that gives it its reasonably robust feel. It doesn’t consciousness flimsy astatine all. Framework is besides utilizing “overmolded, shock-absorbing” thermoplastic to reenforce nan edges, ensuring it doesn’t get nicked aliases dented. That’s not dissimilar what you spot connected budget Chromebooks meant for nan classroom.

The value of nan show is deed aliases miss. The colors are nan biggest detriment to nan show and nan laptop arsenic a whole. It has an disfigured greenish tint, which I confirmed pinch my Spyder colorimeter. It’s emblematic for laptops of this price, but still disappointing to see. The bully news is it's plentifulness crisp astatine 1,920 x 1,200-pixel solution and rather bright, maxing retired astatine 434 nits of brightness. That helps.

While nan show has its deficiencies, nan Framework Laptop 12 has immoderate beardown points successful its favor. The first is nan keyboard, which feels awesome to type connected pinch its 1.5-millimeter cardinal travel. Perhaps moreover much astonishing is nan touchpad. It’s communal to spot unresponsive touchpads astatine this value that consciousness clunky to swipe crossed aliases person stiff, large click mechanisms. That’s moreover existent connected inexpensive laptops I like, specified arsenic nan Asus Vivobook 14. But nan Framework Laptop 12 has a high-end touchpad that’s each spot arsenic soft and responsive to usage arsenic a MacBook aliases Microsoft Surface. It doesn't connection haptic feedback for illustration those, but nan click system is quiet and precise. This mightiness consciousness for illustration a mini logic to for illustration nan Framework Laptop 12, but arsenic nan parts of nan laptop you interact pinch straight nan most, they spell a agelong measurement toward making it consciousness premium alternatively than cheap.